14 Foods Secretly Fueling Your Seasonal Symptoms

11. Strawberries and Certain Berries

Strawberries are a common culprit for oral irritation in people with sensitive immune systems, and they have been described as histamine liberators for some. Berries can also trigger oral allergy syndrome in those with pollen sensitivities. That tends to cause itching or mild swelling around the mouth rather than full-body allergy, but it’s unpleasant and worth addressing. Try cooked berry preparations, like baked berries in oatmeal, which often change the fruit’s proteins and reduce reactivity. Alternatively, choose lower-reactivity fruits such as blueberries or peeled apples if those suit you. Keep in mind that fresh, whole fruit is valuable nutritionally, so a targeted, time-limited change during high-pollen periods is typically the most balanced approach.

12. Apples, Carrots, Celery, Stone Fruits (Pollen-Food Syndrome)

Pollen-food syndrome, also called oral allergy syndrome, happens when tree or grass pollen proteins look similar to proteins in fresh fruits and some vegetables. The immune system mistakes the food proteins for pollen and creates an itchy mouth or throat. People with birch pollen allergy frequently notice reactions to raw apple, celery, carrot, and stone fruits like peach or apricot. The good news is that cooking or peeling these foods usually changes the proteins enough to prevent the reaction. If you’re dealing with seasonal pollen allergy and have mouth itching after certain raw fruits or veggies, try cooked versions, canned (in juice without added sulfites), or simply peel the skin and observe. Serious swelling or breathing difficulty requires immediate medical attention and urgent allergy evaluation.